Zipper head structure

ABSTRACT

A zipper head structure includes a slider body, a pull-tab, and a locking hook. The slider body has an assembling surface for disposing an extension and a ridge. The pull-tab has a holding portion on one end with an opening formed on an opposite end. A hinge portion is defined between the opening and the corresponding end of the pull-tab, with the hinge portion being opposite of the holding portion. The pull-tab is disposed onto the assembling surface of the slider body. The extension of the slider body is received by the opening of the pull-tab. The hinge portion is disposed in between the ridge and the extension. The locking hook is secured to the assembling surface of the slider body. By restricting the movement of the hinge portion, the pull-tab is prevented from separating with the slider body when pulling the zipper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a zipper head structure; more particularly, to a zipper head structure that prevents a pull tab of separating from the zipper.

2. Description of Related Art

In modern clothing, buttons or zippers are often used to secure two pieces of fabric together. Compare to buttons, the zippers are sturdier and easier to use. A conventional zipper comprises a zipper head and a tape. The zipper head works with the tape to allow the pulling action. In years to come, zippers are forecasted to be used widely for clothing and other accessories.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a sectional view for a standard zipper head structure. The zipper head structure comprises a slider body 1 a, a pull-tab 1 b, a locking hook 1 c, and a stopper 1 d. The pull-tab 1 b is disposed onto the slider body 1 a. The pull-tab 1 b has a hinge portion 11 b, which is disposed in between an extension 11 a of the slider body 1 a and the stopper 1 d. When the zipper is closed, the hinge portion 11 b of the pull-tab 1 b would move away from the extension 11 a and toward the stopper 1 d, which is disposed across the locking hook 1 c. Thereby, the stopper 1 d acts to block the pull-tab 1 b from moving unrestrictedly. However, the aforementioned zipper head structure may be more difficult to assemble, involve more manufacturing steps, increase manufacturing cost, waste raw materials, being less user-friendly, etc.

To address the above issues, the inventor proposes the following solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant disclosure provides a zipper head structure, which can improve the assembling process for reducing manufacturing effort and cost.

The disclosed zipper head structure comprises a slider body, a pull-tab, and a locking hook. The slider body has an assembling surface for disposing an extension and a ridge. The extension is disposed at one end of the slider body, wherein the ridge is disposed near the extension. The pull-tab has a holding portion formed at one end thereon. An opening is formed at the opposite end of the pull-tab away from the holding portion. At one end of the pull-tab wherein the opening is formed, a hinge portion is defined. The pull-tab is disposed onto the assembling surface of the slider body. The extension of the slider body is received by the opening of the pull-tab. The hinge portion is disposed in between the ridge and the extension. The locking hook is disposed on the assembling surface of the slider body.

Based on the above, the zipper head structure of the instant disclosure uses the ridge that formed integrally with the slider body on the assembling surface to confine the hinge portion of the pull-tab in between the extension and the ridge. Thus, the movement of the hinge portion over the assembling surface is controlled accordingly. No stopper is required for the locking hook to restrict the movement of the pull-tab over the slider body. The advantages include reducing the assembling complexity of the zipper head structure, which reduces the manufacturing effort and cost, saves raw material usage, and promotes environmental friendliness, etc.

In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional zipper head structure.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of a zipper head structure of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the zipper head structure of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the zipper head structure of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 4 along the cut line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, which show an assembled view and an exploded view of a zipper head structure of the instant disclosure respectively. The zipper head structure comprises a slider body 11, a pull-tab 12, and a locking hook 13. The slider body 11 has an assembling surface 114, which has an extension 111 and a ridge 112 formed thereon. The extension 111 is formed at one end of the slider body 11, and the ridge 112 is formed near the extension 111. The pull-tab 12 has a holding portion 121 formed on one end thereof and an opening 122 formed on an opposite end. A hinge portion 123 is defined in between the opening 122 and corresponding end of the pull-tab 12. The hinge portion 123 is opposite of the holding portion 121. The pull-tab 12 is disposed on the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11. The extension 111 of the slider body 11 is received by the opening 122 of the pull-tab 12. The hinge portion 123 is disposed in between the ridge 112 and the extension 111. The locking hook 13 has a base portion 131, which is disposed over the hinge portion 123. The locking hook 13 itself is secured onto the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11.

The slider body 11 further comprises a slot 113 projected thru the slider body 11 and a joining portion 115 formed on the slider body 11. The slot 113 is formed on one end of the slider body 11 opposite of the joining portion 115. The joining portion 115 extends from the assembling surface 114 to the opposite face (not labeled) of the slider body 11.

A hooking portion 132 is formed by bending one end of the base portion 131 of the locking hook 13. A fixing portion 133 is formed by bending another end of the base portion 131. The hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 runs thru the slot 113 of the slider body 11, and the fixing portion 133 is secured to the joining portion 115 of the slider body 11.

Notably, the joining portion 115 of the slider body 11 is concaved, such that the fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13 can fit to the joining portion 115 for securing to the slider body 11.

In addition, a mouth 134 is formed in between the base portion 131 and the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13. The extension 111 of the slider body 11 projects thru the mouth 134 of the locking hook 13. The extension 111 of the slider body 11 abuts one side of the mouth 134, such that when closing the zipper (not shown), the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is caught by the extension 111 to prevent from disengaging the slot 113 of the slider body 11.

Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 4A, which show a top view and a sectional view along the cut line A-A for the zipper head structure of the instant disclosure respectively. Please also refer back to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction. For assembling the zipper head structure, the opening 122 of the pull-tab 12 is first aligned to the extension 111 on the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11. Next, the pull-tab 12 is disposed onto the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11, such that the extension 111 of the slider body 11 is within the opening 122 of the pull-tab 12. Then, the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is projected thru the slot 113 of the slider body 11. When closing the zipper, the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is caught by the extension 111 to prevent from disengaging the slot 113 of the slider body 11. The fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13 is secured to the concaved joining portion 115 of the slider body 11. Finally, the base portion 131 of the locking hook 13 is pressed toward the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11, such that the fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13 is completely secured to the slider body 11. Once completely secured, no more pressing is required on the base portion 131 of the locking hook 13. Thus, the assembling process of the zipper head structure is completed.

In use, when closing the zipper (not shown), the holding portion 121 of the pull-tab 12 is first pulled upward relative to the slider body 11. Next, the hinge portion 123 disposed in between the extension 111 and the ridge 112 and over the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11 is defined as a pivot point. By pulling upward, the pull-tab 12 is rotated, such that the holding portion 121 is at the same end with the joining portion 115. As the zipper is being closed by pulling the pull-tab 12, the hinge portion 123 of the pull-tab 12 abuts to the ridge 112 of the slider body 11. The shape of the ridge 112 is not restricted. Thus, when using the zipper, the integrally formed slider body 11 utilizes the ridge 112 on the assembling surface 114 to confine the movement of the hinge portion 123 of the pull-tab 12 over the assembling surface 114, to keep the pull-tab 12 from separating with the slider body 11.

The disclosed zipper head structure mainly uses the ridge, which is integrally formed with the slider body, to confine the hinge portion of the pull-tab in between the extension and the ridge of the slider body. When pulling the zipper, the ridge of the slider body can effectively confine the movement of the hinge portion over the assembling surface of the slider body. Thereby, the zipper head does not need a stopper to confine the movement of the pull-tab. As a result, the assembling complexity of the zipper head structure is reduced. Accordingly, the manufacturing effort and cost can be saved, along with saving raw material usage, promoting design simplification and environmental friendliness, etc.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiment of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims. 

1. A zipper head structure, comprising: a slider body having an assembling surface, wherein an extension is formed on one end of the assembling surface and a ridge is formed on the assembling surface near the extension; a pull-tab having a holding portion on one end and an opening formed on another end thereof, a hinge portion being defined between the opening and the corresponding end of the pull-tab, the hinge portion being on the opposite end of the holding portion, wherein the pull-tab is disposed on the assembling surface of the slider body, wherein the extension of the slider body is arranged in opening of the pull-tab, and wherein the hinge portion is disposed between the ridge and the extension; and a locking hook having a base portion disposed over the hinge portion of the pull-tab on the assembling surface of the slider body, thereby retaining the pull-tab on the slider body.
 2. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein the slider body further comprises a slot and a joining portion formed thereon, wherein the slot projects through the slider body and is formed on one end of the slider body, and wherein the joining portion is formed on another end of the slider body opposite of the slot.
 3. The zipper head structure of claim 2, wherein a hooking portion is formed by bending one end of the base portion, and wherein a fixing portion is formed by bending another end of the base portion.
 4. The zipper head structure of claim 3, wherein the hooking portion of the locking hook projects through the slot of the slider body.
 5. The zipper head structure of claim 3, wherein the fixing portion is secured to the joining portion of the slider body.
 6. The zipper head structure of claim 4, wherein the joining portion is concaved.
 7. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein a mouth is formed in between the base portion and the hooking portion of the locking hook, and wherein the extension of the slider body projects through the mouth of the locking hook.
 8. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein the slider body is integrally formed. 